For the record, this isn't a scholarly work.
When I started writing for
Legacy of Alexander, Pt. II
I knew I wanted to use different scale modes throughout the
album to help establish the geographical location of each song, thus
minimizing the amount of exposition required in the lyrics.
Now, I'm not the kind of guy who can just learn everything I need
to know about Egyptian scales from a YouTube video of Andy LaRocque,
so some research was required.
Having done the legwork, I decided to share the results. I figure
other people might be curious about integrating unfamiliar
elements into rock music too.
So, here's a disclaimer before any purists criticize my work
as a brazen oversimplification of a particular culture's music theory:
Many cultures have musical traditions dating back hundreds or
even thousands of years. I would not presume to teach anyone how
to write "serious" music according to any of those traditions.
I am just describing how I have attempted to establish an exotic
atmosphere in some of my songs.